I think that the crystal ball will agree with me when I say, “beard styles will continue to become more popular in 2012.” But this doesn’t mean barbers will be losing their shaving business, since there will always be a need and desire to get a smooth, clean shave. What I predict is that “us” barbers will become much busier in the facial hair trimming and styling category. I know that I personally have seen an increase of clients wanting to keep their bearded treasures.
Here are three styles you can expect to see more of… The Van Dyke, beard scruff & the beard.
Why? Well, I’m glad you asked!
I think we can all agree that a great deal of our style choices can be heavily influenced by the entertainment industry. Not only because it’s always around us, but because it’s easy and always offering new ideas for inspiration! Here’s a list of the four major categories of entertainment and the guys responsible for the trends:
- Music – Drake, Adam Levine, Rick Ross
- TV – Ashton Kutcher, Jason Momoa, Charlie Hunnam
- Movies – Johnny Depp, Leonardo Dicaprio, Justin Timberlake
- Sports – Matt Kemp, Brian Wilson, David Beckham
and even magazine ads… – Guess, David Yurman, Dolce & Gabanna
The influences are everywhere and they are always changing! Take, for example, the scruffy beard. It seemed like everyone was wearing it when the likes of Adrien Grenier, David Beckham and Tom Brady began sporting this style regularly. Hey, it’s no different from men embracing classic hair styles brought back by the likes of Mr. Don Draper from Mad Men.
So I think that it’s safe to say that the beard is here to stay, at least for the next year of so. Or until a few of these guys decide to give my straight razor shave a try!
I believe that beards are in a constant cycle of in style and out of style. Until the day that men are genetically programmed not to grow them. I believe the willingness to have a beard or to cut it, depends on external elements. A loss of a job, or the gaining of one. Taking a vacation or coming back from one. As long as our DNA says so, men will always fall in and out of love with facial hair. So as for right now, after 10-20 years of the clean shaven look, I agree, beards are coming back. Are they here to stay in the mainstream, I doubt it. But! They are making another guest appearance.
I’d like to add on to Mr. Ridgeway’s list of external factors that influence the decision to sport facial hair (in any configuration):
– your significant other / partner / spouse / whatever
I sported a goatee (no mustache) at my wedding almost ten years ago and have had a Van Dyke or variation thereof ever since. My two kids have never seen me clean-shaven. Really, ever since college, I’ve had varying forms of the Van Dyke, goatee, or something similar.
That is, until last weekend. I shaved it all. I wasn’t looking for a long-term change, just some Spring Cleaning …I guess. At any rate, my wife’s first comment to me was, “How fast can it grow back?” My kids said, “Daddy, you look funny.”
Needless to say, it’s been a week and I haven’t shaved. I’ll be sporting the old look as quickly as it’ll fill back in.